Google Digital Garage has teamed up with Churchill Retirement Living to deliver a new digital workshop initiative for the over 60s. Their first event took place at St John’s Lodge in Timperley, providing a comfortable and sociable opportunity for older people to learn more about being online safely whilst making new friends.
The Google Digital Garage is one of Google’s flagship investment programmes in the UK, where anyone can come and learn free digital skills through a range of courses or 1:1 sessions. Since launching the Google Digital Garage in 2015, over 300,000 people have benefitted from Google’s free face-to-face training on digital know-how across 250 locations in the UK.
Nearly five million people over the age of 55 are not online[1], yet nearly half will go ‘online by proxy’ – asking someone else to go online for them. This is often down to lack of confidence or concern about security online. By teaming up with Churchill to bring its Digital Garage experts to retirees in Timperley and other locations around the country, Google Digital Garage is giving older people the opportunity to learn the basics, build their confidence and enjoy the positive benefits of getting online.
Ronan Harris, Google UK & Ireland Managing Director, said: “In the digital age, a basic understanding of how the online world works is incredibly useful. We are delighted to bring the Google Digital Garage to Churchill’s retirement developments across the UK and ensure everyone has access to free digital skills workshops and 1:1 coaching. We hope those who join get the skills they need to become more confident online.”
Churchill Retirement Living’s Chairman & CEO Spencer McCarthy added: “We know from talking to our Owners that those who are active online can benefit financially as well as enjoying greater independence and wellbeing. Whether it’s keeping in touch with family members or getting the latest online shopping deals, there are plenty of positives, and at Churchill we even provide free wi-fi in our Owners’ Lounges to encourage this.
Teaming up with Google is a great way for us to raise awareness of the benefits of being online, not just for our Owners but also the wider community. Since we also know that older people are almost twice as likely to feel isolated or lonely if they are not online, we hope that by inviting local people to come and take part in these sessions we can help them meet new people as well as developing their skills and confidence.
This event is the first of a series of digital workshops that Google and Churchill are looking to roll out in partnership at other retirement developments around the UK. To find out more visit www.churchillretirement.co.uk or call 0800 458 1857.
[1] Centre for Aging Better – https://www.ageing-better.org.uk/publications/digital-age